SEA DOGS NOTEBOOK

HIGH PRAISE
Willy Palov of the Halifax Chronicle Herald had some high praise for the Sea Dogs in his “Inside the Q” column today.

“The Sea Dogs are winning big, winning close ones, winning with offence, winning with defence and winning with goaltending,” he wrote. “You can’t ask for more than that and that’s why they are now the undisputed favourite to win the league title.”

“The Sea Dogs are dominating so much that I’ve heard of at least three teams that won’t even bother trying to keep up.”

To read the feel good story of the season click HERE.

STREAKY STATS
The Charlottetown Guardian newspaper took a look at the Sea Dogs’ 20 game winning streak on the statistical side of things. Here is what they found:

Anatomy of a streak
A quick look at the Saint John Sea Dogs numbers during its 20-game winning streak:
- Goals For - 97
- Goals Against - 39
- Power Play - 26-of-91, 29 per cent.
- Penalty Kill - 80-of-104, 77 per cent.
- Overtime Wins - One.
- Shootout Wins - Two.
- Shutouts - Two.
- Home Wins - 12.
- Road Wins - Eight.

STREAK HAS REACHED THE BIG TIME
If you’re a Sea Dogs fan and consider Columbus to be the greatest city in the world, prepare to be knocked off your feet. The Columbus Dispatch ran a column about the Sea Dogs’ streak and the fact that they are being led by former Blue Jackets head coach Gerard Gallant.

“Might the Blue Jackets want to scout the Sea Dogs coach in case they need to hire a good hockey mind in the future? No need,” wrote Bob Hunter in his column. “Former Jackets coach Gerard Gallant is in his first season with Saint John.”

“Gallant, fired as Jackets coach in November 2006, was an assistant with the New York Islanders in 2007-08 and got the job in New Brunswick last spring. He told The Times and Transcript that he did not see this juggernaut coming.”

"I didn't know the league and I didn't know my players back in training camp. There's no way I could've expected to be where we are right now," Gallant said. "I'm fortunate to have a group of players like this. It's only approaching mid-December, but everything has been falling into place for us so far."

Hunter’s “Rumblings” column was one of the first to report that Gallant was the front runner to become the Sea Dogs’ new coach this past summer.

HELPING OUT
The Telegraph-Journal revealed today that a total of $506.05 was collected by the change bandits last Saturday at Harbour Station. The bandits went around the rink during 45 second time-outs and collected cash in Santa hats. All proceeds went to the Empty Stocking Fund.

“We couldn't think of a better cause to give it to than the Empty Stocking Fund," Sea Dogs president Wayne Long said.

Long said that the Sea Dogs got the change bandits idea from the London Knights.

To read the full article click HERE.